NCGA APPLAUDS EPA DEREGULATION OF ENLIST DUO HERBICIDE

OCTOBER 2014

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(Posted Wed. Oct 15th, 2014)

The National Corn Growers Association applauds the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s approval of Dow AgroSciences 2,4-D herbicide, a part of the ENLIST system. This approval, which follows USDA’s September approval of corn and soybean varieties designed to tolerate this herbicide, will provide farmers with a valuable tool to combat instances of weed resistance.

“The battle for approval of all components of this important technology has taken both determination and patience,” said NCGA Trade Policy and Biotechnology Action Team Chair John Linder, a farmer from Edison, Ohio. “This final step should place a necessary, new tool in the hands of corn and soybean farmers in immediate need of new systems to combat growing weed pressures throughout the Corn and Cotton Belts.”

The decision, which posted to the regulatory docket today, states that the decision reflected "a large body of science and an understanding of the risk of pesticides.” Noting that the herbicide met standards necessary to protect public health, the EPA further noted that it used “highly conservative” assumptions in its risk evaluation.

Additionally, this decision has placed unprecedented stewardship and monitoring activities around its use. It is clear the EPA has gone above and beyond to ensure the safe use of this product.